Access Bank Plc has confirmed that it has entered into a definitive and binding agreement with ABC Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Atlas Mara Limited, to acquire a 78.15% shareholding in BancABC Botswana (Formerly known as African Banking Corporation of Botswana Limited).
According to a disclosure signed by the company’s secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, the transaction which is subject to pre-requisite regulatory approvals is expected to be sealed before the end of the second quarter of 2021 (Q2,2021).

In December 2020, a renowned global finance website, Bloomberg had earlier broken the news of a possible deal between the aforementioned firms, after a tip-off by some insider sources who pleaded anonymous. According to Bloomberg sources, if successful, the deal would mark the second transaction between Atlas Mara and Access Bank, after the latter had agreed to buy the former’s Mozambique unit at the end of September.

The recent announcement is a boost to Access Bank’s quest to expand its operations across the African continent. The Bank had earlier revealed its plans to be present in 22 African countries over the next five years. This goal has been the major driver in its recent acquisitions and merger including but not limited to its Cavmont (Zambia) and Grobank (South Africa) deals.

READ: LASG Partner Access Bank To Provide N2bn Funding For Women Entrepreneurs

Confirming the BancABC talks, the GMD/CEO of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe said: ‘’We remain committed to a disciplined and thoughtful expansion strategy in Africa, which we believe will create strong, sustainable returns for our shareholders and stakeholders at-large over the medium and long term.

‘’The establishment of Access Bank through this acquisition in the Republic of Botswana will position the Bank to deliver a more complete set of banking solutions to its clients active in and across the SADC and COMESA regions. This transaction complements our recent strategic growth acquisitions in South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.

‘’We are building a bank of the future that Africans across Africa and the world will be proud of, and look forward to welcoming employees, customers and other stakeholders of BancABC Botswana to Access Bank.’’

Naijabusiness.com.ng gathered that the decision to sell BancABC might be connected to the recent financial difficulties the bank is facing especially with respect to the principal holders of its $81million convertible bond originally due for settlement in December 2020. BancABC Botswana is the fifth largest bank in Bostwana. It was formed in 1997 through a merger of First Merchant Bank and Heritage Investment Bank. Atlas Mara bought the bank in 2014 for $265 million.

https://www.naijabusiness.com.ng/news/2021/access-bank-affirms-negotiation-with-atlas-mara-to-take-over-bancabc/

Following the successful deployment of an end-to-end registration module, the Corporate Affairs Commission on Sunday stated that it was now prioritizing the reduction of the registration circle for new companies to just three hours before the end of year 2021.

The Registrar-General of the commission, Garba Abubakar who gave this indication at a dinner organized in honour of the Chairman, governing Board, CAC and Nigerian Ambassador Designate to the Kingdom of Spain, Ademola Seriki disclosed in series of tweets posted via the commission’s Twitter handle on Sunday.

READ ALSO: 43 Years after listing: NSE approves voluntary exit of Mobil Oil

The Registrar-General disclosed that the commission was making arrangements to empower over 400 approving officers with working tools to process and approve registration applications either from home or anywhere necessary.

Abubakar stated that the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic had adversely hampered CAC’s delivery timeline. But the CAC was resolutely committed to serving its customers despite being forced to operate with less than 50 per cent of its workforce.

While bidding farewell to Seriki, Abubakar said he received the news of his appointment with mix feelings as CAC was going to miss his tremendous support and guidance.

In his own remark, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, described the outgoing CAC Chairman as a man of immense pedigree and enormous potential to justify the confidence reposed in him by the President.


https://www.naijabusiness.com.ng/news/2021/cac-set-to-reduce-company-registration-circle-to-three-hours/

LAFARGE AFRICA PLC
CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR 2021 TECHNICAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Are you ready to reinvent Our future while developing your own?

Lafarge Africa Plc Announces 2021 Technical Skills Development Program

Lafarge Africa Plc, an equal opportunity employer, invites suitably qualified secondary school leavers (male and female) for admission into a three-year multi-skilled vocational training program covering the following technical disciplines:

Maintenance Processes i.e. Mechanical /Electrical / Instrumentation and
Automation /Welding and Fabrication Technology.
Cement Manufacturing Processes i.e. Production/ Process and Quality.


THE PROGRAMME
The program is a public-private sector partnership which trains and equips successful candidates with the skills and attitudes to be self employed/employable in the vocational areas listed above.
It is a non-residential, 36-month technical intensive training scheme in which
successful candidates will enjoy tuition-free lectures, rigorous hands-on sessions and a token allowance to offset out of pocket expenses.
Graduates of the program, on completion, will be awarded both Lafarge Africa PIc’s internal certificate and the National Innovation Diploma (NID) certificate.
Lafarge Africa Plc, through this and other programs, continues to create the conditions for a diverse and inclusive workforce, with particular emphasis on gender balance in operational roles and developing talent at an early career stage

Female school leavers are strongly encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Completion of WASSCE, GCE, NECO or equivalent no later than January 2018
Minimum of 5 O’level credits to include English Language. Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and any other subject (in a maximum of 2 sittings).

ALSO: Nestle Nigeria Plc - Call For Application For 2021 Technical Training Programme

METHOD OF APPLICATION
Applications can be submitted online through https://dragnetscreening.ng/laftech.php or submitted physically (using the application form) to any Lafarge Africa Training Centre on Our plants.
Application form can be downloaded from www.lafargeafrica.com.ng/careers or picked from any of the plant locations.
Applications MUST be accompanied with proof of above stated results, recent passport photograph, Birth Certificate and any of the following: National Identity Card or Slip/ International Passport. Please note that sworn affidavits/declarations will not be accepted.
Physical applications should be enveloped and addressed to; The Head, Latarge Africa Training Centre Ashaka / Ewekoro / Mfamosing respectively.


https://www.naijabusiness.com.ng/opportunities/grants/2021/lafarge-africa-plc-call-for-application-for-2021-technical-skills-development-program/

I guess they are contented with their southern Africa market base.

KoleDgreat2020:
This is just to divert Nigerians attention from the Petrol increment... Watchout, nothing meaningful will come out of these loans

Lot of Nigerians who applied last year benefited from the stimulus

The Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reopened the Targeted Credit Facility for COVID-19 Loan application portal. The credit facility was targeted as a stimulus to support households and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement shared via Twitter, the disbursing financial organization, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank stated that COVID-19 targeted credit facility application reopened for fresh applications.

The application for 2020 which run for three months was closed at the end of June 2020, the CBN said over 80,000 families and households benefitted from the 2020 credit facility.

The COVID-19 The COVID-19 Support fund, which will be distributed by NIRSAL Microfinance Bank and come with an Interest rate under the intervention is 5% P.A.

READ: How to Apply for CBN COVID-19 Loan for Households and SME’s (2021)

The Household loan requirement for include:
· Loan application letter
· Duly completed application form
· Duly executed Guarantor form
· A valid means of ID (national ID, driver’s license, voter’s card or international passport)
· Current utility bill
· 2 recent passport-size photographs
· BVN

MSME Loan Requirement:
· Loan application letter
· Duly completed application form
· Duly executed Guarantor form
· A valid means of ID (National ID, Driver’s License, Voter’s Card or International passport)
· Current utility bill
· 2 recent passport-size photographs
· BVN

https://www.naijabusiness.com.ng/news/2021/breaking-cbn-reopened-covid-19-loan-application-portal-direct-nirsal-microfinance-bank-to/



lalasticlala

Where is the governor?

The Project Delivery Office (PDO) of the MSME’s Survival Fund and Guaranteed off-taker Stimulus Scheme, has announced 9th February 2021, as the commencement date for the opening of the registration portal for the Survival Fund Guaranteed off-taker Stimulus Scheme.
According to the statement released by the PDO, the Survival Fund Guaranteed off-taker Stimulus Scheme aimed at protecting and sustaining the incomes of vulnerable Micro and Small Enterprises by guaranteeing the offtake of their products.

A total of 100,000 Micro and Small Enterprises are expected to benefit from the scheme, with the following state by state distribution; Lagos 3880, Kano 3280, Abia 3.080, the remaining 33 States and FCT will each have 2640 beneficiaries.

The qualification Criteria for this Scheme are as follows
• Applicant must be a Nigerian national
• Applicant must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with at least a business name
• Applicant must be ready to produce under NAFDAC, SON specifications
• Applicant must have a verifiable BVN and Bank account number
• Applicant must have at least 2 staff members



Click to see List of Products to be Captured in the Guaranteed On-take Stimulus Scheme

The Federal government of Nigeria has ordered the reopening of the MSME Survival Fund Payroll Support Portal for registration of businesses in 30 states of the Federation. The Payroll support scheme is meant to assist about 500,000 vulnerable MSMEs in meeting payroll obligations (Salaries) of between N30,000 to N50,000 per employee over 3 months.
In a statement signed by the Hon Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry. Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, the Project Delivery Office (PDO) inform the Public that the MSME Survival Fund Payroll Support Portal will be exceptionally reopened for States that have not met their quota. The Portal will be open for 7 days beginning from 27th January to 2nd February 2021.

The payroll Support Track of the MSME Survival Fund Scheme which was flagged off on the 21 of September 2020 is aimed at supporting vulnerable MSMEs in the payroll obligations of over 500,000 employees for a period of 3 Months.

The state to benefit from the reopening include; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

READ: 10 Amendment in Nigeria Finance Act 2020 that Could Affect your Business

Businesses in states like Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Rivers and the FCT who have met their quota are excluded from participating in the reopening exercise.

Requirements for businesses to benefit from the Survival Fund Payroll Support includes:
• Businesses must have CAC registration.
• Businesses must have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 50 staff.
• Business must be owned by Nigerians.
• Must have verifiable BVN.
• The Scheme provides for 45% female participation and 5% Special Needs participation.

https://www.naijabusiness.com.ng/news/2021/breaking-msme-survival-fund-payroll-support-portal-reopened-for-30-states/

cc: lalasticlala

I linked all my phone numbers to NIN directly using the NIMC mobile app.

Lagos State government to auction vehicle caught for traffic offences.
Lagos State Government – Lagos State Environmental And Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Task Force)- Auction Sales Of Forfeited (One- Way) Vehicles (93 Items)

SM giants have rules and policies you must agree to while signing up, it has always been there.

Great Man! A colossus in Nigeria Animal husbandry, especially poultry

Rest in peace.

No doubt, some of the governments fund interventions works.
See guide and link to Lagos State COVID-19 Palliative for Hospitality, Tourism and Other Creative Businesses

That is true

Was the effect of climate considered when building the train for our clime?

They should leave the man alone, he's practising what aligned with his belief. Did anyone harass Christians that pray in unknown tongues?

That's a kind gesture from Mr governor.

Okay

Okay

The Federal government has officially unveiled the registration portal for the N75 Billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), thereby paving the way for interested young Nigerians between the age of 18-35 years old to apply.
Successful applicants will undergo 5 days of compulsory online training which is free. Fund approval will range from N250,000 to N5,000,000 with a spread across group applications, individual applications, working capital loans set at 1 year, and term loans set at 3 years.

REQUIREMENTS
• Phone
• Gender
• Residential Address
• Geo-Political Zone
• State of Origin
• LGA
• Educational Level
• Select Preferred Training Center
• How did you hear about NYIF?

Revenue in relation to each state population, could have been one of the parameters used in reaching the conclusion.

It's simply their thirst for knowledge, they invested in EDUCATION.

Normal

Good one from life beer

When will GSM telcos start offering unlimited data package like the broadband operators?